Ask the Author: Keitha Smith
Answered Questions (10)
Keitha Smith
Cecily woke with a disquieting sentence of panic rising in her chest. She looked over at her beloved bookcase only to find all the books had disappeared.
Keitha Smith
Interesting question - and so many great destinations to choose from! In fact, I'm so pushed to choose that I might just have to mention a few. I'd love to travel to Rivendell (Lord of the Rings) and have a few days chilling with the elves. I'd like to go to Pemberley and visit Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. I'd quite like to visit Thursday Next in her crazy world (Jasper Fforde). My only proviso is that I'd like to visit all of these places when things are calm and there is no danger of getting caught up in a crazy adventure. Life here in my realm is quite adventurous enough.
Keitha Smith
My reading pile is quite extensive and varied but I don't often get to it. Apart from writing, I also tutor students in high school English and will read what they're reading and I am also a judge for the Australasian CALEB Prize so also get diverted with that commitment. On my reading pile is a whole mix of genres - crime, drama, fantasy, non-fiction. All I need is a bit of time to dive in and enjoy!
Keitha Smith
For me it's pretty hard to go past Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy - especially as I am a big Pride and Prejudice fan. I've actually thought a lot about why this romance has had such enduring fascination and satisfaction for so many people and I think it has a lot to do with the progression the characters make internally to get to the point of togetherness. It's less about overcoming outer obstacles and more about overcoming inner ones - the very pride and prejudice that the title suggests. A change of heart or a change of mind (or both!) is so much more powerful than a simple change of circumstances. That and the fact that Elizabeth's wit and outlook make you want her to find her happy ending.
Keitha Smith
For The Worth of Water I got the idea for my premise from real life. My daughter has a boyfriend of long-standing (a lovely young man). As I’ve got to know him it occurred to me that there’s something quite interesting about the process that happens when someone raised with different values starts to play a role in your life and in the life of someone you hold dear. This led me to think about the whole subject of values and the ways in which they influence our lives on all sorts of levels. The basis of the story involves two families with completely different values and explores what happens when they come together. I should point out here that outside of the germ of inspiration, my story in no way reflects our own situation ☺
Keitha Smith
The desire to write comes naturally to me and has done since my childhood years, when I devoured novels and attempted to write stories myself. I write what’s probably best described as contemporary women’s fiction (or Aga-sagas if you’re British) and so I look out for ideas that bring a group of characters together, for whatever reason, in order to tell the story I envisage. I then put this premise together with whatever theme I feel inspired to write about and combine the two to create story. That’s the easy bit. The more difficult part is finding the time to sit down and bring my planning to life. As Thomas Edison said, “Success is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration”. I think being organized, being passionate and having a plan really helps with this equation.
Keitha Smith
I’m between novels and the moment. My most recent book, The Worth of Water, is currently in production and should be out in a couple of months. I’ve just started initial planning stages for my next novel and am also going to write a how-to book on the whole idea of planning since, over the years that I’ve been writing, I’ve perfected my technique. This certainly made writing The Worth of Water so easy and enjoyable.
Keitha Smith
First and foremost, learn your craft. While writing requires some degree of talent, it is also a skill and as such there is much to learn. Read books on writing skills and practice, practice, practice. If possible, find someone who’s already a writer and get them to analyze and critique your writing so that you can improve and so that you’re better able to self-edit. I would also say it’s very important to understand the conventions of the genre in which you wish to write. Knowing what readers expect from a romance or a crime novel or a thriller will help you write a more enjoyable story from a reader’s perspective. And, of course, keep reading yourself, not just in your chosen genre, but in others too.
Keitha Smith
That’s quite hard to answer because there are a lot of great things about being a writer. From the writing side, I love creating stories and working on how to bring my characters to life through different story events. It’s a bit like trying to do a very complex jigsaw puzzle without a guiding picture. I also love the process of writing, of turning my planned story into a reality. It’s a feeling like no other. Then, once a book is out there, it’s so great when people tell you how much they enjoyed the story. For example, one lady told me that she’d read my novel, The Bell Curve, and that the underlying messages were exactly what she needed for her personal circumstances. Such comments make my heart sing!
Keitha Smith
To be honest this isn’t something I’m plagued by very much. When it comes to writing a novel I am a planner. I spend a lot of time before I even write a word in preparation, planning out my storyline, getting to know my characters and figuring out my plot twists and complications. This means that when I go to write the story, I have everything prepared and can make the most of the time I have to do so. Occasionally I’ll make a deviation from the plan but it’s mostly to enhance the story rather than to write my way out of a corner I’ve written myself into. I write in segments or sub chapters and the most challenging thing is finding the best entry point into any scene. Once I’ve decided that, it’s all good.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more